Owners of Saxon Arms, Stratton celebrate 20 years at venue

Rod and Janette Lamont took over the Saxon Arms in Stratton back in 2004 – just three years after it was built.

Now the publicans are ‘proudly’ celebrating their 20th anniversary at the venue.

The Saxon Arms (Image: Hollie Carr)

Mr Lamont said: “Twenty years is quite rare in our industry. We are also open seven days a week which we are quite proud of.”

The duo have owned pubs in the Dorset area for the past 47 years and also have The Kings Arms, Stoborough in their catalogue.

Mr Lamont has been in the hospitality business all his life having trained as a chef and then going on to running a business for the last 47 years.

Speaking of the struggles of the last 20 years, he said: “We were the first industry to shut during Covid and the last ones to come back – it has been a very challenging landscape.

“We have moved with the times. Nobody has had to adapt more than publicans. It’s not the old pub that it used to be, and drinking culture has changed as well.”

The Saxon Arms (Image: Hollie Carr)

Mr Lamont puts the success down to ‘being very much a community pub, as well as a destination pub known for its food.’

He said: “A lot of people come a long way to consider this place their local. We have some nice walks in the area and have established a good reputation.”

The furthest that regulars come from is Winchester and they visit approximately every other week, whilst others use it as a half way meeting point when travelling from Devon to meet friends from Bournemouth.

Throughout the years, the venue has collected a number of awards including ‘West Dorset CAMRA Pub of the Year.’

The thatched country pub was constructed as part of the village extension in 2001 and features flagged floors, a real fire and food.

Located next to the village church it is frequented by villagers and tourists alike.